Anthony Lispenard Bleecker

Anthony Lispenard Bleecker (June 13, 1741 – April 26, 1816) was a prominent banker, merchant and auctioneer, and well as a vestryman and warden for Trinity Church in lower Manhattan. He was born in the town of New Rochelle, in Westchester County, New York to Jacobus Bleecker and Abigail Lispenard. He is the namesake for Bleecker Street in lower Manhattan.

Bleecker married Mary Noel, daughter of Garrat Noel and Frances Matilda Jaymee, on May 4, 1763. He worked as a shipping merchant and real estate auctioneer in New York City, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in 18th century New York. He was a Major in the 1st Regiment Provincials under a Col. Henry in 1775.

During the British occupation of New York City, the family lived in New Jersey. When General George Washington returned to Manhattan after the British evacuation in 1783, Bleecker was on the committee to officially welcome him back.

Upon his own return to New York City, Bleecker started the family real estate and auctioning business. By 1792, 'Anthony L. Bleecker and Sons' were listed as stock brokers, and by 1818, members of the Bleecker family occupied four of the 28 seats on the New York Stock Exchange. His signature appears on the original list of subscribers of the capital stock for the Manhattan Company, later the Bank of Manhattan Trust Company. The list dates from April 1799.

He owned the farm where the present-day Bleecker Street in Manhattan lies. His residence was 74 Broadway, across from Rector Street, where the large Bleecker family lived for many years. The New York Times obituary of his grandson Anthony J. Bleecker (18 Jan 1884; 8:1) recalled the story of Bleecker coming into his house one day to announce he had bought 160 acres “out in the country” and that his friends laughed at him for wasting his money. That land would eventually become the present day Greenwich Village where Bleecker Street runs today.

The size of his land, and his political and business influence is well documented. However, it is probably the quality of his descendants in the 19th century, and the families they married into, which shows the respect he had. Among the names: Roosevelt, Neilson and Harriman.

Bleecker also was involved in New York's historic Trinity Episcopal Church, situated across from Wall St. He became a vestryman there in 1785. He served until 1807 when he became a warden for five years. He purchased the family vault in its churchyard in 1790 where Bleecker family burials took place well into the 20th century. He was by far the most powerful Bleecker in New York City history.

He left a will on 3 November 1814. He died April 26, 1816 and was buried the following day at Trinity Church Cemetery. His will was proven on May 8, 1816, leaving everything to his wife Mary and mentioned sons James, Garrat and Anthony as executors.